calsfoundation@cals.org
January 23, 1931
Will Rogers visited the town of England (Lonoke County) and met with representatives of the Red Cross, the mayor, and many farmers in the region after reading in a California newspaper about the dire situation there, in which people who were unable to secure food to feed their families had staged a riot. Having been denied in his appeal to President Herbert Hoover, Rogers decided to raise money himself by embarking on a tour for drought relief. The tour, along with money sent in from citizens across the country after reading the stories in their local papers, helped feed and clothe the people of England and carry them through the tough times.